NEW: Jupiter suspect said he killed three and ‘I’m looking at heaven’

As many as three people who took part in a triple murder at a Jupiter home Feb. 5 remain free, according to an arrest report, as a fourth man facing charges in the killings missed a Tuesday court appearance.

Christopher Vasata, accused of three counts of first-degree murder and other felonies, was one of “three or four masked people” who stormed the home in Jupiter’s River Estates neighborhood and shot to death the three victims as they socialized outside around a fire pit, said Charles Vorpagel, who is facing federal weapon and drug charges in connection with the slayings.

Vorpagel, who was renting the home at 1105 Mohawk St., told Jupiter police that Vasata “had to be one of the shooters.”

Vasata, 24, was arrested Monday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm BEach where he was recovering from two gunshot wounds to his lower back and buttocks. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday morning but was too ill to attend, Judge Dina Keever-Agrama was told. The appearance has been re-set for Wednesday.

Vasata allegedly confessed to the murders during a “spiritual moment” while recovering from his wounds, the report said.

“I just killed three people and I’m looking at Heaven,” Vasata told an officer. He later denied making the statement.

Kelli J. Doherty, 20, of Tequesta; Brandi El-Salhy, 24, of Gainesville; and Sean P. Henry, 26, of Jupiter, were dead as the result of multiple gunshot wounds by the time Jupiter police arrived at the home at about 10:30 p.m., the report said.

Vorpagel said he managed to escape the carnage by jumping over a fence then hiding. He was later taken to Jupiter Medical Center suffering from shock.

A few minutes after the shootings, Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies began pursuit of a dark-colored, four-door sedan that stopped on the 100 block of Paseos Way, about a mile southeast of the murder scene. Vasata emerged from the rear of the vehicle, then collapsed on the roadway, the report said.

The sedan fled, and the report does not say whether PBSO continued the pursuit.

Vasata told a deputy that he was shot by unknown assailants while “at a buddy’s house.” During a search of Vasata, a loaded magazine for a .40 caliber Glock handgun, a Perfecta .40 caliber bullet and a single black glove were found in his shorts, the report said.

A BMW, leased by Vasata, was parked near where he collapsed on Paseos Way, the report said. A box of Perfecta .40-caliber bullets was found inside the BMW.

Vorpagel, 27, told investigators that Vasata was not an “invited guest” at his home and added that he was likely one of the masked men who killed his friends.

A Honda Accord belonging to Henry, one of the victims, was found Feb. 6 on southbound Interstate 95 near Northlake Boulevard. Two firearms and a set of BMW keys were uncovered in a culvert about 10 to 15 feet from the vehicle, the report said. A single black glove and blood-stained items were found inside the Honda.

Forensic examinations showed that five spent casings at the murder scene were Perfecta .40-caliber bullets, the report said. The casings were traced to a Glock handgun recovered at the home and another found in the culvert next to Vasata’s BMW.

Jeffrey Vorpagel, Charles Vorpagel’s father, attended Vasata’s scheduled court appearance Tuesday but declined comment. Unidentified family and friends of the victims were also in court and did not speak to reporters.

No one answered at a home on the 300 block of South Delaware Boulevard where Vasata lives. Vasata told police he walked the half-mile from the house to Vorpagel’s home on the day of the shootings, the report said.

Vasata has a history of drug arrests. He was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell in 2013 after police said Vasata he bought $36,000 worth of marijuana to sell.